DANCING On Ice star Michelle Heaton has revealed she faced financial problems during the first coronavirus lockdown.
The 43-year-old entertainer said she and businessman husband, Hugh Hanley, 44, were in six months-worth of debt with council tax, which led to conversations about selling the house and downsizing.
She could not earn money "for almost two years" as the pandemic forced the entertainment industry to shut down – turning her family into a single-income household.
Speaking to This is Money.co.uk, she said: “The worst time started in the first Covid lockdown.
“My income at the time came from corporate gigs, photoshoots and speaking events. All of that got shut down.
“My husband, who works in the fitness industry, and I went from being a two-income household and earning similar wages to just him earning.
“For almost two years, I didn’t earn a penny. All of a sudden, we had half the money in our bank account.
“It was really scary.”
In 2021, jobs in the entertainment industry popped up after almost two years.
Michelle started earning once again and was quick to turn things around.
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She said: “I’ve paid off our council tax bill, got an accountant and got my finances back in good shape.
“The experience made me plan for the future.”
The TV personality and her husband set up a business, Mission Possible Wellness, which helps people achieve healthy and active lifestyles through movement, nutrition, mindset, sleep and motivation.
This opens up a new avenue to generate money where she doesn't "have to rely on the entertainment industry" for her income.
Michelle will be skating away from that bad experience as she is about to star in one of ITV’s biggest shows.
The Sun exclusively revealed she signed up to take part in the 15th series of Dancing On Ice and is partnered with Polish professional ice dancer Łukasz Różycki.
The appearance marks her big return to TV after a battle with booze and drugs.
Chatting to Lorraine Kelly, she said: "I've always wanted to do it, but I knew I wouldn't have been able to complete anything because of how my body was.
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"So I'm glad I didn't get it back then. Now I'm able to commit."
Talking about Łukasz, she said: "I had my fingers and toes crossed for this man. I’m honoured to be skating with him for the show."
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